The more Roman than American

I must according to a blessed author of a monography about Benjamin West(1738-1820), because he has valued the influence, certainly alone one hint, but a hint very important because he has valued some Italian painters, although he has excluded the sculpture, but important is that he has ascertained that: “The extant paintings from West’s Italian period show the avid if uneven appropriation of the wealth of influences surrounding him at this time. Mengs neoclassicism, the physical types and chiaroscuro of Correggio and Barocci, and Tiepolo’s compositions. The works of Raphael, Guido Reni, and Domenichino were also absorbed and became a more pervasive and lifelong influence on his style and understanding of historical painting.”( BENJAMIN WEST The Context Of His Life’s Work With Particular Attention to Paintings with Religious Subject Matter By John Dillenberger, p.18); I think that important of this citation various models that Dillenberg has counted, because he was right, to plural models, that are deeply influenced and that he has bought to London; Raphael to Athens school(Fig.1a), to person or portrait of Leonardo da Vinci has influenced the posture of Christ in the Christ blessing the child(Fig.1) and other version of this subject(Fig.2) he has took the posture from Saint Gerome of Caravaggio(Fig.2a), in Galleria Borghese, that he certainly has seen during his permanence in Rome, the posture is different certainly, but I think that he has seen and studied this painting, and he has modified this posture to his subject. The Tobias curing his father blessing(Fig.3) to old father West took the fluent beard from prophet Jeremy in Sistine chapel, and from same figure he has took also the cloth, with influence of Vincenzo Camuccini(1771-1844) and Felice Giani(1758-1823), and to The raising of Lazarus(Fig.4), he to figure on ground took and has just found the position to other figure(see Benjamin West: an American in Rome in Liceusblog ) and the Fourth rivers in Rome is very important to West because he has interpreted postures of the rivers(Figs.4a-4b) and has synthetized in this figure; to Hercules between virtues and vices(Fig.5), the posture of Hercules is directly from Hercules Farnese(Fig.6), and finally to Return of prodigal son, the posture of father is specular to Saint Longinus in Vatican of Gian Lorenzo Bernini(1598-1680). I have found alone others models to West, but most merit is of the Benjamin West, that now is major American painter, and Europe has likewise to given valid models to paint, but major honor is to himself because he has had intelligence to take it.

Alessandro Lusana  

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Female brushes

We have, at last in Italy, always considered the painting as a job to men, but also women has worked with brushes, and some exceptional case is the best female brush in Italy, this is Artemisia Gentileschi(1593-1654), and other that has worked in painting and they have reached results very important; but other countries are in painting and female painting? Certainly yes, the British women, although we must hear these words: “and in the matter of painting the voice of prejudice has had still more to say”(from book, Women Painters of the World, p.49); painter as Catherine Read(1723-1778), a Scottish painter that has spent three years in Rome, and she has seen Rubens and his light, and his cloth(Figs.6-7), we can understand it to his portraits(Figs.1-3), but I think that she has also seen and studies Guido Reni(Figs.4-5) type of face are very near to Reni. But neither Angelica Kauffman(1741-1807) is escaped to influence of Peter Paul, the cloths of some figure is very specular(Figs.8-9), she accented the color, that in Rome, during 17^th century, has predominated, despite of line and drawing, that is prevailing during Neoclassicism(Fig.10), the color is but is very tempered, and the line of graphical work and concept is predominant, stead in Angelica is covering color, certainly Vasari could despise it, but century go, in Latin tempora currunt; anyway a middle choose between color and drawing, is took by Sofonisba Anguissola(1532-1625), that has took the style(Figs.11-12) of hers master Bernardino Campi(1522-1591), and has followed this style(Figs.13-14); same direct influence that has had Elisabetta Sirani(1638-1665), that has took directly(Figs.15-16), because hers master, from Guido Reni(Figs.4-5), and the last is Rosalba Carriera(1673-1757), that keeps all the effervescence of color and lightness of sign of 18^th century(Figs.17-18), the light is directly from France and Baroque, in Rome, but Rosalba is from Venice where Tiepolo(1696-1770) has predominated. Anyway, the painting isn’t alone male work, and women are likewise clever and influenced.

Alessandro Lusana    

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Celebrare Romam: Virgilius poeta aulicus

I will not celebrate the poet Virgil(70 b.Ch.-21 b.Ch), because he has had and he is going to have certainly followers and lovers during centuries; but I want underline the celebration of family of Caesar, in person of August imperator, that has been the adoptive son of Caesar, thereupon himself of this family; but I want also underline that this celebration, happen in Aeneid, heroic poem that tells heroic flight and fight from Troy city and loves of Aeneas in land where after Romulus founded Rome; behind this celebration is a motive that to every poet of court is essential, search a costumer and master; but Virgil wasn’t Roman, he born near Mantua, Aedes, and the extension of Roman citizenship happen alone through Caracalla(188 a.Ch.-217 a.Ch), Virgil was died, thereupon he could ask the citizenship but after some centuries; during this time who was born out Rome isn’t Roman, and reached citizenship was very difficult or impossible; thereby Virgil have to exalt family of Caesar because he wanted be poet of court, and to thank Maecenas, when Caesar expropriated the fields to give it to his soldiers; others fields family of Virgil had in Campania, an Italian region, through Maecenas in 38 b.Ch. master of Roman cultural where his family moved; in fact, through Maecenas, master of Roman cultural, Virgil known better August, and may he decided that Aeneid would be poem to celebrated imperial family after 29 b.Ch.; I think that he aware of his qualities as poetry, he wanted more than simple local poetry, and in fact, this dream was alone a dream and it was always, although Augustus asked some extract of this poem. A note that I consider interesting, at last I consider so, about Aeneid; the literary criticism has valued that to Aeneid two Homeric side are in this poem; the first is the conquest of Troy and second is the adventurous travel of Aeneas after the flight; twice are correspondent to the Iliad and the second to Odyssey, but we haven’t proofs that Virgil known the ancient Greek language, how he has read thse poems in ancient Greek? It is very simple the fame of Odyssey and its translation was through Livy Andronicus, an intellectual that was born in Taranto(280 b.Ch-b.200 b.Ch), to Iliad two names of translator Gneo Mazio and Ninnio Crasso, that in first decade b.Ch. have translated the this book of Homer; thereupon Virgil can have read twice Homeric books, and took inspiration to his Aeneid; anyway these are masterwork of antiquity, in literary matters.

Alessandro Lusana   

 

 

Ideal truth and political strategy 

I want consider a question that isn’t absolutely actual, because I took condemnation the Nestorian think about nature of Christ, that he has took also influence of Manichean think, because in his book, this is The book of Heraclides, he has written, to imaginary question: “Why the Manichean don’t admitted that Christ is a man, but they believe that he is alone God?”, to this question he answered: “The Manichean and their follower believe that Christ is alone a God, to miracles, and regard his humanity he has hided it under a human imagine…”, we can consider that it is think felt directly influence of Manichean, although moderately. The Fotinian(300-376) has been a heretical man that has thought that Christ was adopted from God, although he was born to Saint Spirit, and he accepted that the Trinity is distinguished but alone to God father is identifiable, Nestorius explained because this theological belief: “…he isn’t God, but a man alone to his birth and his death; and the miracles are happened because he as a saint. Other question of Nestorius is regard to Arian belief: “Why the Arian don’t believe the Christ as a God perfect and independent, neither they believe a man. They allege to believe that Christ is demigod and demi man, a body that isn’t animated and a divinity created…they mixt the goodness nature to human nature”, Other question: “What the words regard God and the Verb is become flesh, without body?”, explication is very clear: “They accused the Manichean that the body of Christ isn’t true, but alone appearance…”, and the interesting step is so: “…regard to miracles, they consider that it are the will of God alone…”, the interesting step is that alone God has given possibility to Christ fro miracles, because it is belief of orthodox religion, this is  Christ is emanation of God. These controversies about nature of Christ could certainly to be boring, but behind these disputations is other, this is a mere political motive, this is, if Christ has had alone the divine nature he on the cross hasn’t suffered, thereby he hasn’t redeemed the mankind, therefore the Church is useless, because it brings the learns of a god certainly, but he hasn’t saved us, thereupon believe to Church is useless, and it could lost its rule. Same motive, alone political, is that of Luther; he wanted remove the power to Church; in fact he has removed the mess and sacraments and saints and other, why? Because the land of Church could be took from German principles, and it is clear from a confession of Socini(1539-1604), that on a letter he has said that Luther has had back the principles, this is the aristocracy that wanted take the proprieties of Church; thereby the human behavior and no certainly theological disputes. We must consider also that during first time of Christian religion, the orthodox belief was not, thereby it is very easy use some heretic think; for this wre necessarie the councils, where was decided what have to be the doctrine. In 1945 an important discovery, in city of Nag Hammadi, Egypt, so called the discovery of Skeptical library, some papyrus, threteen codics that have apocrypha gospels, the Gospel according to Thomas, to Philip, to Egyptian, to Truth, and Apocalypses of Paul, of James, second of James, of Peter and  of Adam and other traits; these aren't orthodox texts, but interpretations that are in gnosticism. This writtens attest that the dictrine of Christian religion were again longe from a right canonization, thereby the Councils were fundamental to belief. But we can consider the first school, called the Didaskaléion, from ancient Greek, means learn, that is first attestation of a school to Christian doctrine, this school was in Alexandria in Egypt, and we can think that in 180 a.Ch. was present, and that doctrine was just orthodox is attests by a fragment of Ireneus(130 a.Ch) that has title Adversus haereses, this is Against the hereticos, thereupon the doctrine was become right belief.   

Alessandro Lusana  

    

 De honestate narrationis

The work of historical man is, certainly, to keep the events, to further others men are going to can read, and today it is very scant, because we don’t consider these histories important, because we are living, and now are daily, thereby very transcurable, also because we can, today give a interpretation, because we know very much informations, and thereby we can interpreter every episode; the hostest historic is very rare, because we can read the history that are very pimp and elogiative history that very scant regard the inquiry of history, also because the historical men were payed by lords that have commissioned these histories, thereby, except Machivelli, they lived in court, and to speack about a costumer was very inopportune, because others historical men, or so allegeted, were very much adulator, today they could have said: “I must eat too”, thereby I must adulate this lord, and stop! Thereupon when we can read an indication and witness of dignity as that of Niccolò Machivelli(1469-1527), that in prologue of Florentine stories he written, to his costumer, this is pope Clemens 7^th from Medici family: “Since from your Sanctity…was commissioned that I write that the Florentine people, I have used all diligence  and art, that the nature has given me, and experience to

sodisfy…, and as from your beatitude was ordered that I write that your forefather has made, that was manifest that I am distant from every adulation distant(as very much to men hear both true and fake praises…”. It is a scart notation, that machiavelli given and that teaches what is dignity of historical man, but beforethe historical is man, because if the man is unwhorty, his narration is going to be so. This longe example is necessary to underline that other historical man, in ancient Rome, Tacit(55a.D.-117a.D.) accuses the imperator Neron of burn of Rome, but the imperial villa of Neron the Domus aurea was undone, and an imperatore that burns a city so that his home or villa is burned, is very foolish, or we must consider that Tacit was a pride repubblican, this is lover of republic regime, and then was imperator, thereby the judge of Tacit is determined alone to ideological cause; thereupon we must consider that an unbiased history nobody they will be written, in conformity to Hegelian said. But we must also consider that sometime we can find an historical man that has right, because during the read of William of Malmesbury(1095-1143) is very honest when he writes, about a king of Britain, and he was English: “Erat eo tempore rex Britaniae Wortigernus nomine, nec manu promptus, nec consilio bonus, imo ad illecebras carnis pronus, omniunque fere vitiorum mancipium…”, this is: “Then  king of Britain(5^th century) was Wortigernus, neither to hand and advice”, we can think that it is very scant, but it is a example of dignity, because William of Malmesbury wasa monk, but he could write a elogiative history of kings of England, but he has told the truth? We can believe that he has made it, but we must consider that the source of William, in 5^th century, could have written very much truths or very much liers, to motives that we have seen regard Tacit, but I think that we can value the right of William that has written a history that has considered also the wrong wits. Other esponente of this historical man nature is Bartolomé de las Casas(1484-1566) that has told about new colonies that has descovered Columbus, and he in his history of these colonies written: "...other to the same necessity I am bound, because I know that the thinghs that I have seen are present...", thereby a narration of things happened, he tells about also hispanish soldiers, and other. A clarification, the extermination of native in actual Dominican repubblic was determined from illnesses that Europen brought.

 Alessandro Lusana      

 

Letters to himself: Kafka

After the read of Franz Kafka(1883-1924), and his romance or tells, we are very surprising to strangeness of context and episodes that alter the tell; and we consider that this is style of writer, therefore we must habit  to it; but when we read the letters of Kafka same strangeness is very anomalous, because similar to romance, we can find sensations or other, that have not link, i.e., a letter written in 1900 to Selma Robitscheck, and Franz said: “How much words in the book! It must remember! But the words can’t remember!. In fact the words are wrong mountaineers and miners. It don’t take treasure from peaks of mountain or bowels of the mountain. But is a life memory that has passed the hand caressing on the values of record…”, it is example of a letter that we can believe accidental and without sense, but during 1902 the sense didn’t improved, a letter to Oskar Pollak, a classmate of Franz: “Saturday, walking to you, I realised what we need. I write it today because these things must be lay and pose. When we speak together , the words are strong, we run on flag unequal . To things more delicate the foots are inflate and we aren’t guilty. We almost obstacle one other, I boat you and you…”, these are words without sense, as his romances, evidently Franz took some emotions and translate it on paper, but it is very strange, in fact he continuing: “I understand when for years we are in front of the ugly  wall, and it doesn’t want crumble we are boring. It fair  to itself , to garden, and you on contrary peeve yourself, yawns, the pain to head begins.” I believe that or he has drunk or he more credible has took from his style: “You have to noted that every when we meet after a little time we are disappointed, noised, until we are habit to noise, therefore we must set ahead the words so that  we don’t see the yawns.”, but we can find also some notation that we can keep: “I am fair  that you doing not understand the letter: what he want?”, this question is certainly, privately asked to his friend, but I think that we can ask give same question”, and an error of logic is relevant: “When we speak together we are hindered by things that we want say but we can’t say so…”, where is error? Simple Franz is speaking to himself, and stop; anyway I want insist, he has took from his literary style, and has reported it to letters; but differently from romance where all is let, in letters, at last the poor reader, must have possibility to understand something, otherwise you speak to yourself alone, fortunately these letters he hasn’t written to us.

Alessandro Lusana 

   …    

   Other critic

Other critic want alone consider that in specific documents we can take information about some practical use and other and we can know what was life and difficult and customs during centuries; it is vales to also art history, and certainly we must read published or inedited documents, because our will is to know the life and particular episode, that are very important to think that artists were, first men and women, and after artists, we can begin, with an master builder, in 1602:“I(Francesco Bernascone) undersigned master builder in Rome, I am happy and oblige me, in this document, to work everything that are written in these chapters, for builds of Saint Eligius of Goldsmiths in Rome, to prices and accords named, with accord to begin and ended this build and not other. This days 31th October 1602”; apparently nothing that can interest; but we can read some step and understand what is interest, first:“…to work everything that are written in these chapters, today it is normal, otherwise somebody could not give salary, but evidently at that time, an artist could not ended an work, and take other; this step let to us known that the artists were free, also because, the master builder were very much in Rome, and artists were as many, therefore costumers could search other. Other document attests that an artist could ask payment, it is normal today and in 1605; but it says that also the Church, very potent, was very attentive to document that something was payed, because this document is a papal written: “With chirography of pope in 6^th march of 1606, was declared that payment of architect Giovanni Fontana were payed, and that he nothing can will…”; thereupon the Church was certainly potent but no certainly so great as we can think, because they must insured themselves, through this document, that every future payment was unpredictable; nothing that can interest, certainly, but we can consider that, evidently, a future protest would have defamed the Church and public opinion would have very bad opinion, and it is attests that the people in Rome, during the 17^th century, evidently was important. Other famous architect, at last in Rome, Carlo Maderno(1556-1629) is guarantor of a master builder in 29^th 1610, he is guarantor of Francesco Sasso; we can think that this behavior is determined by rule of Maderno in Vatican, because he was architect of façade of basilica of Saint Peter in Rome from 1608 to 1614, and evidently this master builder was very clever to be guarantor; and we can’t think that the Church could free somebody without insurance, and Maderno have to give his person and reputation to this freedom. But Maderno, in 1618, is also valuer of a land of the nuns of church of Saint Sylvester in Rome; therefore the architect could also be estimators of material very distant from artistic works. But interesting date is other that Maderno was Lombard, a region of Italy, and he was buried in a church of Florentine community in Rome, and he was live again, therefore it is choose was very though, above all because we can consider that the church of Lombard community in Rome from 15^th century was Saints Ambrose and Charles, but it was no ended when Maderno died, but other Lombard churches were in Rome, as Saint Bartholomew and Alexander and Saint Anne of Bresciani and Saint Charles ai Catinari; evidently Maderno chosen this church may to personal motive, or because he no considered the communities and their national church important. Other costume that in Italy has had considered is that the job of father was followed also by sons, but although in artistic work, Pier Francesco Mola(1612-1666) was a painter, differently rom his father that was architect, therefore a son could freely chose his profession. A human consideration is to other document, Martin Longhi, architect, that has been charged because he has given a kick to aid of fruit seller because he has grown to the ground his page; certainly nothing of important, but we can understand that also the architects and others artist wanted, at publicly, show a simulated importance, because they wanted be considered as rich and elegant, this is normal today, but if we consider the words of Vasari, major biographer of 16^th century, that has writer the life of Thomas  son of John  of Mone Cassai, called Masaccio, pejorative name to his negligence to cloth; changed time, habit and art. These examples have been necessary to consider that a document can have other value, also human and character. Human character we have considered to manhood but women? A document tells also about the women, the nothing they have to envy to men: “In day 25^th March 1614 Maria de Monte Poliziano servant in home of Onorio Longo in Saint Apostles in Rome has had a fight to other woman…”, thereupon if men have had the sword, the women were more direct and boated very soon, without formalities.; compliments! Sometime some artist, a architect is innocent, because in 1625, a condemn to Martino Longo is false to admission of a lady has confessed that the tell is false, and Martino has imprisoned for 15 days; thereupon when woman didn’t use the hands has used the tongue. May Martino Longo didn’t consider his nationality important because through his epigraph we can understand that he has wanted show his nobility and no citizen: “To God very well and maximum. Martin Francis son of very noble Longhi people from Milan citizen of Rome architect both military and civil from Martino de Longhi forefather”. Finally this stateless was buried in Spanish church of Saint Peter in Montorio in Rome. Alessandro Lusana     

 

 

 

Asceta in domo

I want consider the Basilian rule and his asceticism that, differently from habit in Christian Middle orient, some figure of this habit are Saint Anthony Abbot(a.Ch  251-356) Saint Pachomius, (a.Ch,292-348) and others. The first think is what is the difference among these exemplars, because always asceticism, but difference is that other ascetic lived in caves and town very inhospitable, and the Basilian rule has let to these monks the life in the convent, therefore  the practical is same but organization is different, because now is predominant the rule, and the difference is very important, because a modification, very radical, reconcile the ascetic practical but in different town and through a rule.  Some step show it, the first that we must consider is solitude: “To aid the soul to concentrate is necessary live in solitude. It is dangerous, in fact, live among who has fair of God, and refuse of follow his orders; Salomon learns it: “You not must accompany to choleric, to not habit to his way, and Saint Paul, the Apostle says: “Therefore go out among them and separate yourselves”, this is again the way of ascetic practice, and other step: “If we fear to be tempted to ears or eyes and so habit to sin, if we fear to our soul the mortal danger is we keep in our memory the things that we have seen or things heard, if we want continue to prayer we must begin to live alone. We are going to succeed so may to escape that habit of live like stranger to orders of Christ”. Other step underlines the faith of this mysticism to goodness of God: “After the offended our God through our indifference to signs of his goodness, we aren’t were quieted by his goodness and liked devoid of his love, but we are took of death and given to life, and by our lord Jesus Christ, and way that he has saved us is worthy greater admiration: “He being God although, he didn’t consider this condition as privilege, but he private him of this nature and he took servant condition”. Basil has kept that mysticism but he has changed town; it is certainly can be a medical change, but Basil has given origin to conventualism both middle oriental and occidental, he has given a dwell to mysticism.

Alessandro Lusana   

    

In nomine Domini

Title of this essay has two references, the first is God, that in Latin language is Dominus; therefore ecclesiastical architecture, that we are going to see during read, And second reference is the chief, that in Latin is same dominus; these difference between earthly and divine power has determined both architecture and motive to this build; we can consider that the Monarchia of Dante Alighieri, is a book of this beautiful poetry that explain that mankind has two leaders, these are God and imperator, that in small dimensions become the local church and chief of feud. I want not certainly annoy to description material or form of a church, but I want alone search common stylistic origin of material, and who has worked; thereupon style. I want begin to a abbey of Valvisciolo, near Sermoneta, Italy(Figs.1-1b), that from 1241 has been an abbey of Cistercian order, that today is there present, nothing at last to Italy is interesting, but we can see some architectonic structure, that in cloister is very interesting to bound that we are going to find in other structure, as cathedral of Saint Mary in Sermoneta(Fig.4). Coincidences alone or other causes are determined this nearness? Certainly other causes and what? In years 1054 a scission between Roman Church and oriental Church, that after is become orthodox, a mere theological question was sufficient to divide the two Churches, until that years united in principal question, although issues and disagreements has been also before; but in the Roman Church, so Constantinople called the occidental faith last pope from Constantinople, pope Zechariah, was given a small of city, this is Ninfa(Figs.5-6), today very beautiful garden, according to opinion of the New York Time that has valued that it is garden is more beautiful and romantic in the word; certainly pride motive, but some structure that is present we must consider that it are relic of ancient structure, that we can date about 9^th century, and we can consider it as survive of church, Basilian churches, what is Basilian order? This order is born to 4^th century in Middle orient and to 9^th century is present in Rome, characteristic is asceticism in convent, and monks live in small cells where they pray alone and in church; it is alone history and very small interesting, but during 8^th century, in 750 a.Ch., imperator of Constantinople and Italy, Constantine 5^th gift the land of Ninfa to pope Zachariah, last oriental pope, that has filled this land of monks of order very faithful to Constantinople, thereupon Basilian was one of these order, and certainly more numerous than others; therefore the garden of Ninfa was land very important to this translated, apropos they monks, at last then spoke prevalently the Byzantine Greek; it is necessary to a epigraph that we after we are going to see. From Ninfa garden and Abbey of Valvisciolo distance is 7 miles, therefore very near, and some monks has transferred and built the first nucleus of abbey of Valvisciolo, that today would be difficult identify, but we must consider that this first built is today visible in fact we can walk in this structure simply walking in the cloister; the plane of this cloister is regular and on Greek cross, this is quadrate, and cloister(Figs.7-8), is perfectly quadrate, but this built isn’t of Cistercian order, but it is primitive church of Basilian order, now without roof, but in origin it was. During restores of 1957, in cloister on floor were found traces, very labile but present of partition walls, that defined the cells of Basilian monks that in front of cells have the church; in rule of Saint Basil  therefore asceticism was constant. Title of this essay has two references, the first is God, that in Latin language is Dominus; therefore ecclesiastical architecture, that we are going to see during read, And second reference is the chief, that in Latin is same dominus; these difference between earthly and divine power has determined both architecture and motive to this build; we can consider that the Monarchia of Dante Alighieri, is a book of this beautiful poetry that explain that mankind has two leaders, these are God and imperator, that in small dimensions become the local church and chief of feud. I want not certainly annoy to description material or form of a church, but I want alone search common stylistic origin of material, and who has worked; thereupon style. I want begin to a abbey of Valvisciolo, near Sermoneta, Italy(Figs.1-1b), that from 1241 has been an abbey of Cistercian order, that today is there present, nothing at last to Italy is interesting, but we can see some architectonic structure, that in cloister is very interesting to bound that we are going to find in other structure, as cathedral of Saint Mary in Sermoneta(Fig.4). Coincidences alone or other causes are determined this nearness? Certainly other causes and what? In years 1054 a scission between Roman Church and oriental Church, that after is become orthodox, a mere theological question was sufficient to divide the two Churches, until that years united in principal question, although issues and disagreements has been also before; but in the Roman Church, so Constantinople called the occidental faith last pope from Constantinople, pope Zechariah, was given a small of city, this is Ninfa(Figs.5-6), today very beautiful garden, according to opinion of the New York Time that has valued that it is garden is more beautiful and romantic in the word; certainly pride motive, but some structure that is present we must consider that it are relic of ancient structure, that we can date about 9th century, and we can consider it as survive of church, Basilian churches, what is Basilian order? This order is born to 4th century in Middle orient and to 9th century is present in Rome, characteristic is asceticism in convent, and monks live in small cells where they pray alone and in church; it is alone history and very small interesting, but during 8th century, in 750 a.Ch., imperator of Constantinople and Italy, Constantine 5th gift the land of Ninfa to pope Zachariah, last oriental pope, that has filled this land of monks of order very faithful to Constantinople, thereupon Basilian was one of these order, and certainly more numerous than others; therefore the garden of Ninfa was land very important to this translated, apropos they monks, at last then spoke prevalently the Byzantine Greek; it is necessary to a epigraph that we after we are going to see. From Ninfa garden and Abbey of Valvisciolo distance is 7 miles, therefore very near, and some monks has transferred and built the first nucleus of abbey of Valvisciolo, that today would be difficult identify, but we must consider that this first built is today visible in fact we can walk in this structure simply walking in the cloister; the plane of this cloister is regular and on Greek cross, this is quadrate, and cloister(Figs.7-8), is perfectly quadrate, but this built isn’t of Cistercian order, but it is primitive church of Basilian order, now without roof, but in origin it was. During restores of 1957, in cloister on floor were found traces, very labile but present of partition walls, that defined the cells of Basilian monks that in front of cells have the church; in rule of Saint Basil therefore asceticism was constant; in fact in the rule of Saint Basil in sixt chapter regard solitude of monk is written:“To aid the soul to concentrade, is necessity live in solitude. It is dangerous live among whom tha live without fear of God, and refuse of follow his orders… if we want furthermore to continue for prayer continue, we must begin take decision of dwell in solitude". Other Basilian church, very poor, whose is a central nucleus is in Sermoneta, and name or titration is Saint Michael Archangel, original titration we don’t know, but today is corridor, usually called crypt, but it is original church  during 9^th century, and a painting attests the entrance of original church(Figs.9-9a-10), because the Christ painted on roof of this church, to right and specular to a stairs is same disposition of mosaic painting in the churches that has originally or to imitation of Byzantine style(Figs.10-12). The theological divergences between the two Churches has determined the scission, and Basilian order have to abandon these churches in Ninfa and Sermoneta, and Valvisciolo; but the churches were present again, and it is normal, but in Sermoneta a very dislike episode occurred, a war to Sezze Romano, a town very near, determined the destruction of the cathedral of Saint Mary, in 1236, and the family reigning then, this is Annibaldi, in person of Riccardo Annibaldi(1210-1276), commissioned the rebuilt of cathedral and rather than buy material, he used that of churches of Basilian churches of Ninfa; the proofs are the epigraph in Greek language in the cathedral of Sermoneta(Fig.12a), lozenges(Fig.4) of cathedral that are specular to those of Valvisciolo(Figs.2-3), and in epigraph of Greek text is translatable a small part that says:..θασσω that is place; may the original indication to monks to indicate the position in front of altar, in original church of Valvisciolo(Fig.1) whose plane is, I repeat, regular on quadrat, as plane of Saint Sophie(Fig.1a) and other byzantine church(Fig.1b)  Rebuilt of campanile of church of Saint Mary(fig.13) has same external facing of principal tower of Caetani in the castle in Sermoneta(fig.14), called maschio. Furthemore we must consider that capitals of cathedral of Sermoneta(Figs.18-19), are very similar to capitals of Byzantine churches of Ravenna(Figs.16-17, 20), it attestes the byzantine origin of model, and one structural element, whose today is very hide to vision of internal of church, because are alone some fragment(Figs.21-22a), but throught attention we can consider that during past century, before open chapels, long side navals, two arches allowed access to church, therefore this church, in origin was a centrale nave, that after on sides is enlarged for chapels, but these fragment arches are document of two access that, were destroied for built of chapels, and the access is backed away. This double accessis directly copied by architect Francesco da Volterra(1535-1594) in the church of Saint Mary of Grazie(Figs.23-24), that in 1581 was in Ninfa as guest of Onorato 4^th Caetani, and he worked also other progect, to church of Saint Mary of Mountains, today no visitable; but da Volterra has took idea of medieval double access of church of Saint Mary and has translated to this church.Other document of this Byzantine origin of this church, is topographical name of street where is this built; the name is Via Val Pagana, this is Pagan street, that if we consider it alone, is instinctive judge: “I don’t give damn”, it is name as other, but it is so? No certainly, it is attests from Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange(1610-1688), that written a dictionary of last Latin language, the last Latin that has changed often the mean of words, but it seems that to this substantive is same, because the word Pagus is: “Part in the region, and in region to towns, so towns in villages, city and how we called countries”, it is alone and would stay alone a small notation of last Latin language, if we not consider that during 8^th century Sermoneta was depopulated and only this church was a human presence, and this land about this church, today populated, but at the time only monks were presence, and certainly not much, because a clarification about word of “pagus” is important, because other acceptation, this is “Part in the region”, this region is Basilian region, because, after I have said that diffusion of this order in land of Sermoneta was very important, thereupon the Basilian presence represented a land that they called region; therefore the Pagan street is originally from pagus, as ecclesiastical region.  

Alessandro Lusana    

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